Mount St. Joseph University
Cincinnati, Ohio · Private Nonprofit · 59.1% acceptance rate
ROI Score: 44/100 · Poor Value
Mount St. Joseph University, a Catholic private nonprofit in Cincinnati, posts a Poor Value ROI score of 44/100. Sticker tuition is $38,150 per year, heavily discounted to $16,530 net price after aid - a meaningful 57% institutional discount and one of the best aid stacks in this batch. Four-year all-in cost is about $66,120, well below comparable privates. The drag on the score is the earnings side: median six-year earnings of $36,100, climbing to $51,509 at ten years, with a 12.5-year payback period and a high debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.743 (74 cents of debt for each dollar of early earnings). Completion is decent at 56.3%, and the 70.1% repayment rate shows borrowers are generally making progress. The 25% earnings premium over high-school grads is modest. The nursing program (B ROI grade) and accounting program produce solid outcomes, but the broader institutional picture shows a school that has discounted tuition aggressively without yet producing the post-graduation earnings to justify the program-specific debt loads. For a Cincinnati student priced out of Xavier or Dayton, the Mount can be a workable option, particularly in nursing.
The data raises concerns about Mount St. Joseph University
These metrics fall below the thresholds most financial advisors recommend for a sound college investment. Review them carefully before committing.
- ROI Score44/100 - Poor Value tier (below 45). Most 4-year schools we track score 60 or higher.
Mount St. Joseph University
Quick Numbers
| In-state tuition + fees | $38,150/yr |
| Out-of-state tuition + fees | $38,150/yr |
| Average net price | $16,530/yr |
| Total 4-year cost (net) | $66,120 |
| Median earnings (10yr post-entry) | $51,509 |
| Median earnings (6yr post-entry) | $36,100 |
| Median debt at graduation | $26,827 |
| Estimated monthly loan payment | $284 |
| Estimated payback period | 12.5 years |
| 6-year graduation rate | 56.3% |
| Undergraduate enrollment | 1,129 |
Data as of 2024-2025. Source: College Scorecard API (U.S. Department of Education).
The Full Financial Picture
The sticker price at Mount St. Joseph University is $38,150/year. But sticker price isn't what most students pay. After grants, scholarships, and financial aid, the average student pays a net price of $16,530/year, or roughly $66,120 over four years.
That net price varies significantly by family income. The lowest-income families (under $30,000/year) pay an average of $11,689/year, while families earning over $110,000 pay $21,682/year.
The median graduate leaves with $26,827 in federal loan debt, translating to an estimated monthly payment of $284 on a standard 10-year repayment plan. Against median earnings of $51,509 ten years out, the debt-to-earnings ratio is 0.74 - within the recommended range but worth monitoring.
Net Price by Family Income
What families actually pay after grants and scholarships, by income bracket.
| Family Income | Avg Net Price/Year |
|---|---|
| $0 - $30,000 | $11,689 |
| $30,001 - $48,000 | $12,602 |
| $48,001 - $75,000 | $13,817 |
| $75,001 - $110,000 | $18,092 |
| $110,001+ | $21,682 |
Cost by Income Bracket Explained
Lower-income families (under $30K)
Families earning under $30,000 pay just $11,689 per year net - genuinely affordable, with Pell and institutional aid stacking well. Four-year cost is $46,756. Against $51,509 ten-year earnings, the ROI math works for lower-income families. The $30,001-$48,000 bracket pays $12,602, similarly attractive.
Middle-income families ($30K-$110K)
Middle-income brackets pay $13,817 to $18,092 per year, putting four-year cost at $55,000-$72,000. Still a reasonable price point for a small private, and the institutional aid scales down sensibly. This is the bracket where Mount St. Joseph is most clearly competitive with public alternatives.
Higher-income families ($110K+)
Families above $110,000 pay $21,682 per year, putting four-year cost at $86,728. Still discounted from sticker but not bargain territory. For high-income families, the financial case requires a strong program match (nursing, accounting) or a non-financial rationale around the Mercy mission and small-classroom experience.
Earnings by Major
Top 7 most popular majors at Mount St. Joseph University with available earnings data.
| Major | Median Earnings | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Registered Nursing | $78,664 | B |
| Biology | $59,945 | - |
| Business Administration, Management, and Operations | $63,257 | C |
| Accounting | $69,706 | - |
| Kinesiology and Exercise Science | $49,004 | D |
| Teacher Education | $39,660 | D |
| Political Science and Government | $58,825 | - |
Earnings reflect median 4-year post-completion (or 1-year where 4-year unavailable). Grades based on debt-to-earnings ratio.
Program Analysis
Why these programs deliver their earnings outcomes.
Registered Nursing
Nursing is the standout at 35 graduates earning $68,015 at year one and $78,664 at year four, with $28,000 median debt and a 0.412 debt-to-earnings ratio - a B ROI grade. The Cincinnati hospital system (UC Health, TriHealth, Christ) drives strong placement. Given the affordable net price for most income tiers, this is one of the cleaner nursing-program bets in southwest Ohio.
Business Administration, Management, and Operations
Business (12 grads) earns $45,150 at year one and $63,257 at year four, with $29,750 median debt and a 0.659 debt-to-earnings ratio - a C ROI grade. Middle-of-road outcome - the four-year earnings ramp is okay, but the debt load weighs on the math. Workable for committed business students, but University of Cincinnati's Lindner College of Business is a stronger pick at similar net cost for residents.
Teacher Education
Teacher education (7 grads) earns $39,660 at year one, with $28,343 debt and a 0.715 debt-to-earnings ratio - a D ROI grade. Ohio teacher salaries cap the upside, and the debt-to-earnings ratio is structurally hard for a starting teacher. The Catholic-school placement network is real, but the financial math is tight.
Kinesiology and Exercise Science
Kinesiology (8 grads) earns $31,870 at year one and $49,004 at year four, with $27,000 debt and a 0.847 debt-to-earnings ratio - a D ROI grade. Standard kinesiology problem: the field requires graduate work (PT, OT) for meaningful earnings, and stopping at the bachelor's leaves graduates with significant debt and modest pay.
How Graduates Do
Earnings
Loan Repayment
| Metric | This School | Nat'l Avg |
|---|---|---|
| 1-year repayment | 60.3% | 52.0% |
| 3-year repayment | 70.1% | 62.0% |
| 5-year repayment | 64.5% | 68.0% |
| 7-year repayment | 68.9% | 72.0% |
Completion Rate
Admissions Snapshot
| Acceptance rate | 59.1% |
| SAT Math (25th-75th) | 460-560 |
| SAT Reading (25th-75th) | 470-580 |
| ACT Composite (25th-75th) | 20-28 |
| Enrollment | 1,129 |
| Pell Grant recipients | 30.3% |
| Avg faculty salary (monthly) | $7,744 |
Mount St. Joseph admits 59.12% of applicants - moderately selective. SAT mid-ranges are 460-560 math and 470-580 reading; ACT composite mid-range is 20-28. These are below national averages and reflect a regional Cincinnati Catholic-school recruitment pattern. The relatively low scores correlate with the 56% completion rate - prepared but not academically elite students need solid institutional support to finish.
Compared to Similar Schools
Peer institutions matched by type, size, and selectivity.
Scorecard peers include Allegheny Wesleyan College, Art Academy of Cincinnati, Freed-Hardeman University, Dominican University New York, and Geneva College. None is a perfect peer; Freed-Hardeman and Geneva are the closest in profile as small faith-affiliated regional privates. Among this set, Mount St. Joseph's 44 ROI score is middle-of-pack, with stronger nursing outcomes than most peers but weaker non-clinical program returns.
| School | ROI | Net Price | 10yr Earnings |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mount St. Joseph University (this school) | 44 | $16,530 | $51,509 |
| Dominican University New York | 43 | $41,832 | $61,171 |
| Freed-Hardeman University | 41 | $21,574 | $47,485 |
| Geneva College | 38 | $25,890 | $50,004 |
| Allegheny Wesleyan College | 29 | $5,355 | $37,453 |
| Art Academy of Cincinnati | 9 | $34,253 | $34,368 |
Who Thrives Here
Mount St. Joseph enrolls 1,129 students with a 30.3% Pell rate, a moderately middle-class Cincinnati Catholic-school feeder profile. The fit is strongest for students targeting nursing or accounting in the Cincinnati metro, particularly those drawn to the small Catholic-college environment and Mercy-tradition mission. Students considering kinesiology, teacher education, or general business should price-check University of Cincinnati and Northern Kentucky.
The Verdict: The Numbers Don't Add Up
The financial data raises serious concerns about Mount St. Joseph University. With a net cost of $16,530 per year and median graduate earnings of only $51,509 ten years out, the estimated payback period exceeds 12.5 years. For most students, the financial return does not justify the cost.
Areas of concern include high debt relative to what graduates earn and concerning loan repayment rates.
Median debt of $26,827 against $51,509 in earnings is reasonable, though major choice matters significantly. Students in higher-earning programs will see better returns.
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Data: College Scorecard API (U.S. Department of Education)
Vintage: 2024-2025 · Last updated: 2026-03-25
Earnings reflect median outcomes for all federal financial aid recipients. Individual results vary by major, effort, and career path.